Philippine Banana Farmers Feel Economic Fallout of Iran Conflict

Banana growers in the Philippines say the conflict involving Iran is threatening livelihoods thousands of kilometres from the Middle East.

Farmers and exporters in the southern Davao region report rising fertilizer costs, disrupted shipping routes and falling export prices as trade flows are affected by the conflict.

Industry leaders say the Philippines has lost an estimated $150 million in banana export revenue since fighting escalated, with shipments bound for the Middle East diverted to already saturated Asian markets.

Iran had become one of the Philippines' fastest-growing banana markets, helping the industry recover from years of crop diseases and pest outbreaks.

Now growers fear the economic gains of recent years could be reversed, putting jobs and rural communities at risk.

Al Jazeera's Barnaby Lo reports from Davao, Philippines.

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